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Mosquito Coast Regional Working Group
The Mosquito Coast Regional Working Group liaison is Chris Koeppel, Brevard County NaturalAreas Management, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building A, Viera, Florida 32940, phone:321-633-2016, fax: 321-633-2029, e-mail: [email protected]
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
County: BrevardPCL Size: 139,174 acresProject ID: MC-048 8,000 acres $40,926.26
Project Manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRon Hight, Refuge ManagerP.O. Box 6504, Titusville, Florida 32782Phone: 321-861-0667, Fax: 321-861-1276E-mail: [email protected]
In the early 1960s, NASA began to acquire the land that is now John F. Kennedy Space Center. In1963, the acquisition was complete and NASA turned those lands not vital to the space program overto the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Today, the Department of the Interior manages the 43-milelong barrier island as Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. TheRefuge is adjacent to the Indian River and Banana Rivers, and Mosquito Lagoon.
Approximately one-half of the refuge consists of brackish estuaries and marshes. The remaining landconsists of coastal dunes, scrub oaks, pine forest, pine flatwoods, and palm and oak hammocks.Numerous rare plants and animals live on the refuge. These include seventeen state-endangeredplants, such as satinleaf (Chrysophyllum oliviforme), crested coralroot (Hexalectris spicata), Floridapeperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia), beach star (Remirea maritima), bay cedar (Suriana maritima),coastal hoary pea (Tephrosia angustissima), and sea lavender (Tournefortia gnaphalodes).
Early homesteaders that occupied the land before it became a refuge first introduced melaleuca. Theyplanted the tree as an ornamental, as well as for shade, and it later escaped into the natural wetlandsof the area. This project controlled primarily melaleuca scattered within eleven Burn Units totaling8,000 acres. Melaleuca trees lightly to moderately infested swales that run north to south through themarshes in the Refuge. Most trees were saplings found in small stands.
BIPM also provided herbicide for maintenance control on 1,194 acres treated in the previous fiscalyear. Total cost was $7,385.75 with the herbicide provided by the bureau’s Herbicide Bank.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideCasuarina equisetifolia Australian pine Category I cut stump Garlon 4Melaleuca quinquenervia melaleuca Category I cut stump Arsenal
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Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
County: BrevardPCL Size: 162.4 acresProject ID: MC-054 147.4 acres $47,201.02
Project Manager: Brevard County Parks & RecreationRaymond Mojica, EEL Land Manager5560 North US Highway 1, Melbourne, Florida 32940Phone: 321-255-4466, Fax: 321-255-4499E-mail: [email protected]
The South Beaches project is a cooperative effort between several partners, including federal, state,and local agencies. The project includes several parcels of publicly owned conservation lands on theSouth Beaches of Brevard County. All of the property is located within the boundary of the ArchieCarr National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge, designated by Congress in 1990, is recognized as one ofthe most important areas in the world for nesting loggerhead turtles and the most significant area inNorth America for nesting green turtles. Natural communities within the project area include coastalstrand, maritime hammock, beach dune, and mangrove forest.
This project completed the fifth phase of an aggressive program to remove Brazilian pepper andAustralian pine from publicly held lands on the south beaches of Brevard County. The projectconsisted of controlling Brazilian pepper with an average coverage of thirty percent on four sites:Ocean Ridge Sanctuary, Hog Point Cove Sanctuary, Maritime Hammock Sanctuary, and HardwoodHammock Sanctuary. In addition to the ground work conducted by crews, a Brontosaurus™ mowerremoved 14.5 acres of dense Brazilian pepper.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideSchinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal Garlon 4Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I mechanical n/a
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Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
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Pine Island Conservation Area
County: BrevardPCL Size: 879 acresProject ID: MC-049 190 acres $238,000
Project Manager: Brevard County Parks & RecreationD. Scott Taylor, Ph.D., EEL Central Region Land Manager5560 North US Highway 1, Melbourne, Florida 32940Phone: 321-255-4466, Fax: 321-255-4499E-mail: [email protected]
The mesic pine flatwoods "island" for which this conservation land is historically named isregionally unique in that large areas grade directly into the Indian River Lagoon and other areasexhibit rapid transitions to isolated freshwater marshes and impounded estuarine marsh andmangrove forest habitats that fringe the Lagoon. Development activities on Pine Island during the1960s in support of sand mining and mosquito control operations significantly altered the hydrologicregime and structural integrity of the expansive estuarine marsh system historically characterizingthis property. Invasive exotic pest plants, primarily Brazilian pepper, exploited the conditionsprovided by these land disturbances.
This project, the fourth and final phase of ongoing work, targeted removal of Brazilian pepper fromprimarily hydric hammock and impounded freshwater marsh natural community types located inthree management units of the conservation property. Brazilian pepper occurred throughout theproject area in varying degrees of coverage, with the majority of the project exhibiting densecoverage.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideSchinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal Garlon 4
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Brevard County Lands Maintenance
County: BrevardPCL Size: variousProject ID: MC-052 136 acres $50,000
Project Manager: Brevard County Parks & RecreationRaymond Mojica, EEL Land Manager5560 North US Highway 1, Melbourne, Florida 32940Phone: 321-255-4466, Fax: 321-255-4499E-mail: [email protected]
Numerous agencies within Brevard County have utilized funds from the DEP Bureau of InvasivePlant Management (BIPM) to treat invasive exotic plants on conservation lands over the past 5 years.These agencies, including several departments of the Brevard County Government and the SebastianInlet State Park, have treated several hundred acres within two primary target areas. The two targetareas are properties within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and several properties locatedon North Merritt Island including the Pine Island Conservation Area, the Kabboord Sanctuary, andKings Park/Sykes Creek. These projects received initial treatment under thirteen different BIPMTask Assignments.
Approximately sixty percent of the proposed acreage of this project is within the boundaries of theArchie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is a globally significant sea turtle nesting habitat.The beach dune, coastal strand, salt marsh and maritime hammock communities found on the sitesare considered imperiled and vulnerable to extinction within Florida.
Running adjacent to the Refuge, the Indian River Lagoon, an "Estuary of National Significance," isNorth America's most diverse estuary. The Lagoon is located on the Atlantic Flyway, an importantwaterfowl migratory route. Seagrass beds and mangrove forest located at the shoreline are nurseryareas for juvenile fish and other estuarine species.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideCasuarina equisetifolia Australian pine Category I cut stump Garlon 4Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal Garlon 4
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Thousand Islands Conservation Area
County: BrevardPCL Size: 550 acresProject ID: MC-055 31 acres $64,850
Project Manager: Cocoa Beach Stormwater UtilityJoanie Regan, Stormwater Manager1600 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931Phone: 321-868-3292, Fax: 321-868-3379E-mail: [email protected]
The project area lies within the Thousand Islands, a 550-acre tract of submerged lands, mangroveforest, and approximately 30 acres of uplands created by dredge spoil. Maritime hammock and saltmarsh were the dominant natural communities before the wetlands were filled around 1960. Thecurrent habitat comprises disturbed uplands, predominantly Brazilian pepper monoculture, with athin density of native species such as buttonwood (Conocarus erecta), red cedar (Juniperusvirginiana), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), and Florida privet (Forestiera segregata). A fringe ofmangrove lies along the shoreline. The site is contiguous with the Indian River Lagoon—a NationalEstuary Program area and an Outstanding Florida Water—and is part of the Banana River AquaticPreserve.
Brazilian pepper dominated the project area, with small areas of Australian pine and lead tree. Someolder pepper stands had trunks one to two feet thick, but most trees were young or regrowth clusterswith average trunk sizes of three to four inches. Density was consistent throughout the project areaat an estimated 60 stems per 100 square feet. A Brontosaurus™ mower was used to clear some areasof Australian pine.
The Maritime Hammock Preserve, a 5.4-acre parcel recently purchased by the City, was alsoincluded in the project area. The property is planned as a habitat preserve and stormwater treatmentarea to improve water quality in the Banana River Aquatic Preserve. The parcel, previously clearedat some time in the past, included zones of natural canopy mixed with Brazilian pepper. Brazilianpepper covered just less than one acre of the parcel.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideCasuarina spp. Australian pine Category I basal Tahoe 4Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry Category I foliar Arsenal+glyphosateLeucaena leucocephala lead tree Category I basal Tahoe 4Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal Tahoe 4Panicum maximum Guinea grass Category II foliar Arsenal+glyphosateWedelia trilobata wedelia Category II foliar Arsenal+glyphosate
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Thousand Islands Conservation Area
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Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideCasuarina equisetifolia Australian pine Category I mechanical n/aCasuarina equisetifolia Australian pine Category I cut stump Garlon 4
Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park
County: BrevardPCL Size: 870 acresProject ID: MC-051 10 acres $58,900Project ID: MC-056 9.3 acres $95,400
Project Manager: Florida Park Service (DEP)Ron Johns, Park Manager9700 South A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951Phone: 321-984-4853, Fax: 321-984-4854E-mail: [email protected]
Indian River Lagoon Preserve is situated on an Atlantic coast barrier island. Natural communitiesinclude maritime hammock, beach dune, and mangrove forest. These projects targeted Australianpine for removal along 1.2 miles of the eastern park boundary.
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Lake Monroe Conservation Area
County: Volusia, SeminolePCL Size: 7,390 acresProject ID: MC-050 114 acres $5,495
Project Manager: St Johns River Water Management DistrictRandal S. Snyder, Invasive Plant Program SupervisorPO Box 1429, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32178Phone: 321-409-2168, Fax: 386-329-4310E-mail: [email protected]
The Lake Monroe Conservation Area contains ninety percent of the floodplain of Lake Monroe.Wetlands make up ninety-four percent of the conservation area and provide protection of waterquality for more than three miles of Lake Monroe and St. Johns River shoreline. The area rangesfrom recently planted longleaf pine along Reed Ellis Road to a small strip of palmetto oakhammocks, before the elevation quickly drops into a cypress dominated swamp. Beyond the cypressstrand lies a drainage slough predominantly populated with buttonbush, swamp hibiscus, Sagittaria,Spartina, and sawgrass. Between the slough and the river shoreline are scattered small islands of redmaple, cabbage palm, cypress, and wax myrtle lying among marshes of maidencane, Eleocharis, andthe dominant species, Spartina bakeri.
The project area encompassed the western portion of the property, known as the Kratzert Tract. Thistract is a 114-acre cabbage palm island hammock that lies within a Spartina marsh. Chinese tallowoccurred with varying degree of coverage throughout the project area.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideTriadica sebifera Chinese tallow Category I basal Garlon 4
Freshly cut tallow stumps waiting for their Garlon.
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Photo #1 - before Photo #2 - after
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Pepper Sweep ‘05
County: VolusiaDoris Leeper Spruce Creek PreservePCL Size: 915 acresCanaveral National SeashorePCL Size: 57,661.69 acresProject ID: MC-047 118 acres $54,985.64
Project Manager: East Volusia Mosquito Control DistrictDavid Farr801 South Street, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168Phone: 386-424-2920, Fax: 386-424-2924E-mail: [email protected]
This project encompassed one federal property, Canaveral National Seashore, and one countyproperty, Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve. Much of the project area consists of cabbage palmand live oak hammocks interspersed amidst tidal salt marsh and fringing mangrove forest. SpruceCreek Preserve contained approximately 0.75 acres of Australian pine and 45 acres of Brazilianpepper that were located mainly along the tree line in the marsh area. Some dense stands of pepperalso grew along a canal in the area by Turnbull Bay. The County provided $40,000 in matchingfunds for a total project cost of $94,985.64
The project area also included two sites within the boundaries of the Canaveral National Seashore.The CNS Islands site is approximately 810 acres in size and contained approximately 35 acres ofsparse to densely populated pepper. A large portion of this site consists of marsh areas with sparselydistributed stands of pepper that sat on small islands, some as small as a few square feet in size.Most of the dense pepper communities were located on the larger island known as Shipyard Island.Bill’s Hill, a 175-acre site, is located on the western portion of Mosquito Lagoon and containedapproximately 35 acres of pepper. Most of the pepper was located in the northeast portion of the sitein an area between Mosquito Lagoon to the east and the marsh area/impoundment to the west. Therewere also dense stands along the west side of the marsh area.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideSchinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal, cut stump Garlon 4
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Pepper Sweep ‘05
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Pepper Sweep Maintenance
County: VolusiaSmyrna Dunes ParkPCL Size: 250 acresNorth Peninsula State ParkPCL Size: 522.26 acresCanaveral National SeashorePCL Size: 57,661.69 acresProject ID: MC-053 260.0 acres $38,952.44Project ID: MC-024 114.5 acres $13,898.50
Project Manager: East Volusia Mosquito Control DistrictDavid Farr801 South Street, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168Phone: 386-424-2920, Fax: 386-424-2924E-mail: [email protected]
The first project encompassed a county park, a state park, and a federal park; Smyrna Dunes Park,North Peninsula State Park, and Canaveral National Seashore, respectively. Natural communitiesfound on these conservation areas include coastal dune, coastal strand, maritime hammock, coastalstrand, oak scrub, live oak hammock, mangrove swamp, and tidal marsh. These parks were thesubject of initial control work under four previous “Pepper Sweeps” (2000-2004). Volusia Countyprovided in-kind contributions valued at $3,500 to this project.
The second project was a continuation of maintenance control on the above three parks as well asBulow Creek State Park and four other county parks. BIPM provided the herbicide only for thisproject through its Herbicide Bank.
Target Plants Common Name FLEPPC Rank Treatment HerbicideSchinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Category I basal, cut stump Garlon 4
The pepper trees may be dead andbrown, but a healthy seed bank meansa few years of watchful maintenanceto come.
